STRONGBRANDS    Professor Tim Calkins, Kellogg School of Management

Last week I wrote about UNC Health Care and the organization’s disappointing efforts to deal with a devastating article in the New York Times. This week, another brand, Fair Oaks Farm, is facing a brand crisis and making the right moves. Fair Oaks Farm As you drive from Chicago to Indianapolis, you pass a remarkable dairy operation: […]

UNC Health Care is a facing a devastating brand crisis today and doing a terrible job of managing the situation. This is a fascinating, tragic story about healthcare, brands and trust. The New York Times Report Yesterday, the New York Times ran a long, detailed article describing issues with cardiac pediatric surgery at UNC Children’s […]

This weekend, terrorist bombers struck churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, causing more than three hundred deaths and hundreds more injuries. The attacks, on Easter morning, shattered the peace in the tropical country. The bombings were devastating. The death toll is shocking, and the attack on religious sites on an important holiday makes it particularly […]

One of the few things that most politicians in this country seem to agree on is that generic drugs are terrific and we should have more of them. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb released a statement this week: “A robust pathway for generic competition is critical to expanding drug access and promoting public health.” Senator Elizabeth […]

KraftHeinz last week stunned the financial world with its announcement that earnings fell and the company was cutting its dividend. The company also wrote-down the value of some of its brands. The news was a big surprise. The stock price fell more than 25% on Friday and is continuing to fall. Investment managers are now […]

The 16th annual Kellogg Biotech and Healthcare Case Competition is underway; the case went out last Friday, and on Saturday teams will compete for almost $10,000 in prize money. The Teams More than 50 groups applied for the event, and we selected twelve remarkable teams to compete in Evanston. Competitors are from eleven of the […]

Each year I highlight a few brands to watch. Here is my latest list of brands that will be in the news in 2019. 2019 Brands to Watch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – The young and dynamic politician from NYC. Beto O’Rourke – The former Texas Congressman, likely to make a run for president. Alibaba – The […]

Each year I highlight a few brands to watch, sometimes brands that I think are poised for great success and sometimes brands that seem to be in trouble. With the end of 2018 coming right up, it is time to look back and see how I did this year on my predictions.   Sears I […]

Last week was the big “Pay Your Age Day” at Build-A-Bear. As you have probably read, the event did not go well. People certainly responded to the offer, but so many families and kids showed up that Build-A-Bear had to halt the event and turn people away. This was – to put it mildly – unpopular. […]

Yesterday Fifth Third Bank announced that it would be acquiring MB Financial Bank. The move gives Cincinnati-based Fifth Third an opportunity to do something it should have done a long time ago – drop its ridiculous brand name. The combined institution should become MB Financial Bank or adopt a completely new name. Every once in […]

Last week, Budweiser announced that it will be introducing a limited-edition beer this summer called Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager. The beer was apparently inspired by a recipe that George Washington wrote in his journal in 1757. Is this a good idea? Absolutely. Budweiser is a famous but troubled brand. Consumption has fallen steadily over […]

This week I wrote about the Bill Cosby brand. He was a master brand builder, and used his remarkable brand to cover for his predatory behavior. Brands are powerful and can be used for good and evil. You can read the article here: https://fortune.com/2018/04/30/bill-cosby-rape-sexual-assault-trial-jail/